This is a re-post from several years ago from my other blog - Pieceful Afternoon - Ben is now 12, so you can tell how long ago it was.
I've recently decided to pick up the crazy quilt and work on it. A great project for lazy summer afternoons on the deck. A glass of iced tea, a cookie or two - or some Ranier cherries, and my threads and fabrics. As I progress with the new section of the crazy quilt I'll keep you updated. I wanted to show you the progress so far on the first part, started some years ago.
March 10, 2010 - Come on in - I've been working on my crazy quilt and I'd like to show it to you. Have a nice cup of tea, how about a cranberry/pecan shortbread cookie? Are you nice and comfy? Good, glad to have you visit.
For several summers I would paint fabrics all summer long. I would paint it with a special photo sensivite paint, lay grasses, cedar fronds, flowers, etc on the painted color and put the fabric in the sun to print. Where ever there was something on the fabric, the color would not set and I would get a white image on the colored fabric.
Somtimes Ben would "help" Grammy paint the fabric - mostly by running up and down the painting boards when the paint was dry.
Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen? Such a good helper.
When I was painting the fabric I cut the pieces into fat quarters (18x22" for you non-quilters) and there were often small pieces left at the end of a bolt of fabric so I would paint those to use myself. One day, while looking at a nice pile of the pieces I painted for myself I came up with the idea of a crazy quilt made with the hand painted fabrics. Since the fabric is 100% cotton I chose to use only cotton embroidery floss for the stitching.
Do you know why it is called Crazy Quilting? Not because the pieces are crazy shaped, but because it resembles the crazing on old dishes - those little crackly lines that sometimes appear as dishes age.
It is traditional for every Crazy Quilt to have a spiderweb . . .
A butterfly - flying above some pretty flowers . . .
I really enjoy the hand embroidery and like to try out new stitches. After working on it for a while I usually put it aside when it begins to feel like I'm repeating stitches too often - and then when I pick it up again it feels fresh. I am making the quilt in sections and when sections are completes I join them together, and eventually it will be big enough to use on our bed.
And so I begin again with a new section of the crazy quilt. Stay tuned for updates.
This is the new section of the crazy quilt that I've started - the hand painted fabrics are hand stitched to the backing - and now I can have the fun of embellishing with embroidery.
See you later - I'm off to stitch! Thanks for visiting.
See you later - I'm off to stitch! Thanks for visiting.
9 comments:
What a beautiful work of art you are creating!
Good for you! My friend Queeniepatch has lots of stitches with new ones every week. If you have never checked her out, you might find some good ones to try there. I am now in Oregon ... so near and yet so far.
I LOVE your crazy quilt, JoAnn! The fabrics you have designed and dyed are amazing. How sweet Ben is. He looks as if he is playing hop scotch on your pretties. Such a lovely collection of pretty embroidery stitches. I know you were thinking about beads and ribbons......could be a goer. =) In my mind's eye I can see you on your deck enjoying a little Summer stitching, oh and an iced tea. Enjoy!
Hello, I love the photos of your helper Ben. he is a cutie. Your quilt looks beautiful. I am sure the hand embroidery is hard work but well worth the end result. It will be gorgeous. Happy Friday, enjoy your day and weekend!
What a great quilt! But what really makes it special is the embroidery embellishment!
Oh, this is so interesting! I would love doing the embroidery part of quilting. I have never been brave enough to start one though. What cute pics of this little guy 'helping you'! Enjoy your day sweet friend. Hugs, Diane
My goodness that is quite an undertaking and beautiful.
I have never did a true crazy quilt, but I did help my mom on some pieces...I remember her doing some crazy quilting and then using it to make a purse...just experimenting. That had to have been 40-45 yrs ago.
I hope you show updates as you stitch on this piece...
Your workmanship is beautiful! I have never made a crazy quilt, but enjoy examining them for little surprises around every corner. I had no idea why they were named "crazy!"
I have put quilts aside for over a year. When I reclaimed them, it was with fresh enthusiasm that they were finished. That does work!
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